Addy’s insides trembled from nerves and excitement. He followed behind as she led him out of the giant ballroom and pulled him behind a giant plant down the hallway. “How are you even here?”

He grinned. “I have my ways.”

She shook her head, trying to make sense of what he was telling her. “Look—”

He placed a finger over her lips. “No. I fucked up. I own up to that. I treated you badly just because you’re related to Gracen.”

She smirked. “Her and I looking exactly alike had something to do with it, I’m sure.”

“I was confused when Kayla said you were her twin. She never mentioned a twin. She said she had an older sister.”

Addy laughed outright. “Yeah. By two minutes. Listen, Nick, it’s okay. I know you weren’t trying to be rude to me. You were lashing out at the person you thought I was. I get it.”

“Good. Then you’ll let me take you out so we can get you what you paid for.”

She shook her head. “It’s not necessary. Like I said, I would’ve donated anyway.”

“It is necessary. I want to get to know you.”

Did he really? Or was he just saying that out of guilt? Her own desires were making it difficult to make a rational decision. Perhaps she should follow his lead and see where this went. “Okay.”

His smile almost did her in. “Great. I have the perfect place to take you.”

Oh, boy. Nick Gates turning on the charm was a very dangerous thing. “You’ll have to give me a call so we can figure out a date and time. I’m unsure what my week looks like right now.”

They heard people looking for her passing by, so they left their hiding spot and went back to the dinner. There they found Kayla and her husband, Ryan.

“I see Nick found you,” Kayla said with raised brows. Ah, yes. Now she knew how Nick got into the event.

Nick had his hand on her back, giving everyone something to talk about. She should be worried or uncomfortable, but she rather liked him touching her. “Yes. We were discussing getting together.”

“If you don’t want to,” Kayla started.

“No, no,” Addy reassured her. “It’s okay. Nick and I will be fine.”

Well, maybe fine wasn’t the word. She’d have to control herself with Nick, something she’d never had to do with any man. Nick was temptation unlike any she’d ever encountered.

Dinner would have been an easy event had it not been for Nick sitting next to her. His hand on her lap caused all kinds of distractions.

“How’s your chicken?” he asked, a knowing grin on his gorgeous lips.

“Good,” she lied. She couldn’t remember what it tasted like no matter how much she ate. “Your steak?”

He leaned forward and whispered only for her ears. “I’m not hungry for food. There are other things I’d love to eat right now.”

Good god. She gulped her water and put her fork down, giving up on any pretense of eating. “What caused this change? Unless you’re still under the impression all I want is a one-night stand.”

She had to know. Nick had been adamant about how she was the devil because she was related to Gracen.

The flirtatious grin left his eyes. “No, I don’t. I can’t believe I put you in that category. I know you can be related and be totally different. I just didn’t expect it with twins.”

She nodded and waited until her plate was taken before saying anything. “Actually, that’s most common with twins. There’s usually a big difference between the two.”

“Goes to show what I know. I really do want to get to know you, Addilyn.”

She smiled at how soft and sexy he said her name. “Most of my family and friends call me Addy.”

He glanced around the table and then at her. “So how many of these do you go to a week?”

A short laugh burst from her. “You sound like my father. Not many, really. Around one or two per month. There are a lot of charities that need help. And a lot of events happening to raise funds. I try to help and being the face of Scars, I need to make sure I show up to some of them. A lot of times, my co-chairs take my place, but in many of these, the organizers have invited me because we know each other.”

He nodded and listened to her speak about her love for nonprofits and fundraising. She would’ve believed he was faking interest but he asked questions and commented and seemed genuinely into what they were talking about.

By the time the music started playing for people to dance, he pulled her on to the dance floor and she knew full well that the rumor was going to get around about them. She never danced at any of these events. They were doing a slowly dance and her mind was wrapped up in the vision of him and her and soft sheets and slick bodies. Someone tapped on her shoulder.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

She couldn’t believe her parents had decided to show up to this dinner over any of the others they’d been invited to.

“Dad! Hi,” she kissed her father and then her mother and turned to Nick. “Dad, Mom, this is Captain Nick Gates. Nick, these are my parents, Greg and Allison Walton.”

She’d worried they might recognize the name from someone Gracen had dated, but neither gave any sign of it.

“Captain Gates, a pleasure,” her dad said and shook Nick’s hand. “You must be incredibly persuasive to get my little Addy on the dance floor. She never dances unless I’m here.”

Nick smiled at her dad, but she noticed it wasn’t as warm as he’d done with her. “Well, you have a lovely daughter.”

“That, I do,” her dad said.

“Sweetheart,” her mom pulled her to the side for a second. “He seems like a very nice man. Too bad Gracen doesn’t meet men like him. You should see if he has a brother.”

“Mom, I really don’t think—”

Her mom shushed her. “Ask whenever you get a chance. You know your sister needs a good man in her life. The poor girl. Okay, we’re going to circulate.” She air-kissed Addy’s cheek and pulled her dad away before Addy got a chance to say anything else.

Addy took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh before turning to Nick. “Sorry about that.”

“They really have no idea the type of woman Gracen is, do they?”

She shrugged and glanced at her parents chatting with the event organizer. Her mother was the ultimate socialite. She spent her days giving orders in multiple households, arranging staff, and keeping everything running smoothly. Then she went to the spa, the club, and was busy working out to stay fit.

Her dad was a busy man with multiple companies to run. Both of them indulged Gracen. She was their baby.

“They let a lot slide when it comes to her. She’s always played the baby role well.”